64 



SECOND Y ARK AND MISSION. 



The two specimens in the collection were both procured by Dr. Bellew ; (Dr. Stoliczka 

 did not traverse the Nubra valley). They differ so much from each other, that I was for 

 a time disposed to consider them as belonging to distinct species, but there is no important 

 difference between the skulls. Both were shot in October. The following is the description 

 of the older specimen, which I suppose to be still in summer vesture. The skin has been 

 slightly stained, and is rather more rufous than it should be. 



General colour rufous brown (very dark-brownish tawny) above, white below; tail 

 whitish below, sooty black above ; face and anterior surface of ears like the back, tips of ears 

 black, the colour running for some distance down the posterior margin. 



Fur soft but short, scarcely an inch long on the middle of the back, very pale brownish 

 at the base for about half its length (palest as usual in the middle of the back), then darker 

 brown ; towards the end pale rufous brown, the extreme tips being frequently black on the 

 back. Neck and breast pale rufous ; the basal portion of the hair browner. Head in front 

 brown; cheeks rather paler; ears brown in front outside, pale brown behind, black at the tip 

 and for some distance down the posterior margin ; hair on the inside of the ear and on the 

 anterior margin isabelline. The hair on the head and ears everywhere very short, so that the 

 ears are almost naked inside. A light brown band down the front of the fore-leg, the exterior 

 portion of thigh and tarsus the same colour : pads darker. Hairs of lower portion and sides 

 of tail buffy 1 white throughout, those of the upper surface sooty black near the end, 

 blackish ashy towards the base. Length of dried skin from nose to rump 16^ ; tail with hairs 

 at end 4, without 3 ; tarsus to end of claws 2" 75 ; ears outside, from the head between the ears, 

 4" 5, from orifice 35 ; breadth laid flat 2' 25. 



The following is the description of the younger specimen which has been, I think, shot 

 whilst assuming the winter coat. In midwinter, however, it would doubtless be paler and 

 greyer, its dark brown colour being due to the newness of its fur. This is the specimen 

 figured on PL IV. 



General colour above dusky brown, with an ashy tinge on the rump, lower parts white ; 

 tail white, with a broad black band on the upper surface. The fur is very soft and short ; the 

 hair on the middle of the back being only three-quarters of an inch long, and on the rump 1J. 

 The dorsal fur is ashy at the extreme base, then very pale, hair brown ; in the longer hairs 

 towards the tip there is a dusky ring succeeded by a very pale rufous one, the extreme tip 

 being black. Nape and neck above and at the sides pale rufous ; breast similar but paler and 

 duller. Head dusky brown ; the hairs buff and blackish mixed, whitish round the eye and on 

 the chin ; whiskers mostly black, the apical portion of the longer and a few of the smallest 

 lower hairs white. Ears thinly clad near the margins inside with whitish hair ; a brown 

 band near the posterior edge ; the edge itself buff, the anterior edge with longer white hairs, 

 anterior external portion of the ear mouse-brown, (finely mixed dusky and buff,) posterior por- 

 tion very pale-brownish grey. Apex of the ear externally black ; a line of the same colour 

 runs forward for about an inch from the apex and just outside the posterior margin for about 

 half-way down the ear. Limbs mostly wliite, a very light brown stripe down the front of 

 the fore-legs. Length of skin (apparently stretched) from nose to rump about 20 inches ; 

 ear from head between the ears 4*25, from orifice 3*5 ; breadth laid flat 2" 25 ; tarsus from 

 calcaneum to end of claws 4'6. 



1 The colour is probably white, but the specimen with some others was packed damp and appears to have become stained. On 

 this account the specimen has not been figured. 



